AACN News—May 2005—Association News

Vol. 22, No. 5, MAY 2005

New Critical Links Membership Drive Is Now Under Way

The 2005-06 Critical Links Member-Get-A-Member campaign is now under way with a revamped list of prizes for individuals or chapters. In fact, every member you recruit by March 31, 2006, increases your chances of receiving rewards.

The rewards are automatic when you recruit five new members ($25 AACN gift certificate) and 10 new members ($50 gift certificate). You will also be eligible for a monthly drawing to receive a $100 American Express gift check in any month you recruit even one new member.

The top recruiter at the end of the campaign will again receive a $1,000 American Express gift check. Plus, he or she will be eligible for the Grand Prize drawing for a $500 American Express gift check. A total of three will be drawn, with anyone recruiting five or more new members during the campaign entered into all three drawings.

Chapter RewardsChapters are also eligible for rewards. In fact, the chapter recruiting the most new members during the campaign will receive a $1,000 honorarium check toward its treasury. But, that’s not all.

Each month, any chapter recruiting a member will be eligible for a drawing to receive one complimentary registration for AACN’s National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition. And, each chapter that recruits five or more new members during the campaign will be entered into three drawings for a $500 honorarium check.

Nominations Invited for National Leadership Posts
Deadline June 3, 2005, for Terms Beginning in July 2006

Would you like to help AACN achieve its mission and values? Could AACN benefit from the demonstrated leadership competencies of someone you know? In either case, now is the time to submit nominations for national AACN leadership positions.

AACN is currently seeking nominations for positions on the AACN Board of Directors, AACN Certification Board of Directors and AACN Nominating Committee. Terms begin July 1, 2006.

To nominate yourself or a colleague, simply go to the AACN Web site at www.aacn.org and click on Call for Nominations. The nomination form is simple, requiring minimal time to complete. If you prefer or do not have Internet access, you can request that a nomination form be sent to you by calling (800) 394-5995, ext. 331; e-mail, pat.mallette@aacn.org.

If you nominate someone else for a leadership position, follow up with that person and support him or her through the application process. Only about one-third of the individuals nominated each year have completed the application process in the past.

Nominations must be postmarked by June 3, 2005. Tomorrow’s future depends on your courage today to step forward and live your contribution.

You miss 100% of the shots you never take.—Wayne Gretsky

Following is information about the positions that are available:

AACN Board of Directors(4 positions open, 3-year terms)Accountabilities:• Establish the vision, mission and values statements for the association.• Ensure effective organizational planning.• Effectively manage the association’s resources.• Determine, monitor and strengthen the association’s programs and services.• Uphold legal requirements and ethical integrity.• Recruit and orient new board members and assess board performance.• Ensure effective communication between AACN and AACN Certification Corporation and other subsidiaries of the association.Qualifications:• Active membership in AACN• Active commitment to and understanding of AACN and its mission, vision and values• Demonstrated leadership skills as defined in the AACN Leadership Framework

AACN President-Elect(1 position, 1-year term followed by 1-year term as president)Accountabilities:• Same as listed for AACN Board of DirectorsQualifications:• Same as listed for AACN Board of Directors• Must previously have served two years on the AACN Board of Directors

AACN Certification Corporation Board of Directors(2 positions open, 3-year terms)Accountabilities:• Define and support the corporation’s vision, mission and values.• Ensure effective planning that is based on the corporation’s mission, vision and values.• Ensure effective strategic planning.• Effectively manage the corporation’s resources.• Determine, monitor, evaluate and strengthen the corporation’s programs and services.• Act with integrity and uphold all legal requirements of the corporation.• Assess board performance and ensure board succession.• Ensure effective communication between AACN and the corporation.Qualifications:• Demonstrated leadership skills as defined in the AACN Leadership Framework• Commitment to and understanding of AACN Certification Corporation and its mission, vision and values• Nurses certified by the corporation, other nurses and consumer representatives• AACN membership not required

AACN Certification Corporation Chair-Elect(1 position, 1-year term followed by 1-year term as chairperson)Accountabilities:• Same as listed for AACN Certification Board of DirectorsQualifications:• Same as listed for AACN Certification Corporation Board of Directors• Must previously have served one year on the AACN or AACN Certification Corporation Board of Directors

Nominating Committee(3 positions open, 1-year terms)Accountabilities:• Ensure the election process is in accordance with established procedures, policies and bylaws.• Conduct comprehensive interviews of nominees.• Review, synthesize and analyze nominee applications, references and interview transcripts.• Through group process, select candidates.• Communicate the committee’s decisions and feedback to the nominees.Qualifications:• Active membership in AACN• Active commitment to and understanding of AACN and its mission, vision and values• Demonstrated leadership skills as defined in the AACN Leadership Framework

Work Group Chairs Appointed

Chairs for AACN’s national work groups for 2005-06 have been appointed:

Each week, Critical Care Newsline delivers updates on the latest news and important information via e-mail. You’ll find links to articles and Web sites on a variety of topics to keep you informed on issues that affect nurses and the nursing profession.

If you are not receiving Critical Care Newsline, simply e-mail your name, street address and e-mail address to enewsletter@aacn.org. Please indicate whether the street address is for home or work and, if for work, the name of the business.

For the Record

The Critical Care Transport Team that received the Excellence in Clinical Practice—Non-Traditional Setting Circle of Excellence Award for 2005 is at Lackland AFB, Texas. Its location was incorrect in a listing of award recipients that appeared in the March 2005 issue of AACN News.

Angela S. Collins’ credentials are RN, DSN, CCNS APRN, BC. Her credentials were incorrect in a listing of Circle of Excellence Award recipients that appeared in the March 2005 issue of AACN News.

Be a Part of the Circle of Excellence
Annual Award Nominations Close July 15

July 15 is the deadline to nominate yourself or a colleague for an AACN Circle of Excellence Award for 2006.

Recipients of these prestigious recognition awards will be recognized at AACN’s National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition in May 2006 in Anaheim, Calif. In addition, personalized plaques are presented to all recipients.

Some also receive honorariums, monetary awards or complimentary registration to the NTI.

Following is brief information about these awards. To obtain a Circle of Excellence awards application, call (800) 899-2226 or visit the AACN Web site.

Practice and Research Awards3M Health Care Excellence in Clinical Practice AwardSponsored by 3M Health Care, this award recognizes acute and critical care nurses who embody, exemplify and excel at the clinical skills and principles that are required in their practice.

Baxter Excellence in Patient Safety AwardSponsored by Baxter Healthcare, this award recognizes patient-care teams that have made significant contributions toward patient and caregiver safety in acute and critical care. Recipients describe innovative approaches used to develop new and revised processes that encompass safety and improve the quality of care at the unit, hospital or health system level. They show clear evidence of active collaboration among team members validating their success by presenting evidence-based outcomes.

Dale Medical Products Excellent Clinical Nurse Specialist AwardThe award recognizes CCNS-certified clinical nurse specialists in acute and critical care. Applicants also must demonstrate the key components of advanced practice nursing and illustrate how they have been a catalyst for successful change.

Excellence in Caring Practices AwardPresented in honor of John Wilson Rodgers, this award recognizes nurses whose caring practices embody AACN’s vision of a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and families. Recipients demonstrate how they have encompassed AACN’s values and ethic of care in their practice.

Excellence in Clinical Practice—Non-Traditional SettingThis award is designed to recognize excellence in the care of critically ill patients in environments outside of the traditional ICU/CCU setting. Eligible applicants include, but are not limited to, nurses working in home healthcare, progressive care, telemetry, catheterization labs and emergency departments.

Excellent Nurse Practitioner AwardThis award recognizes acute and critical care nurses who function as nurse practitioners. Applicants must be ACNP certified. In addition to demonstrating the key components of advanced practice nursing, recipients illustrate how they have served as a catalyst for successful change.

Excellent Nursing Student AwardThis award recognizes nursing students whose activities during nursing school have promoted the value of nursing and reflect the AACN vision of creating a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and families, where critical care nurses can make their optimal contribution. Individual students or groups of students are eligible to apply. Recipients receive a complimentary three-year AACN membership.

Excellence in Research AwardThis award recognizes nurse researchers who arefurthering the mission, vision and research priorities of AACN. Recipients of AACN research grants or NTI research abstract award recipients are not eligible for this award.

Research Abstract AwardThis award recognizes research abstracts that display outstanding merit and particular relevance to critical care nursing. Recipients are selected from among the research and research utilization abstracts submitted for the NTI. Abstract submissions must be received by Sept. 1. Successful applicants receive $1,000 toward NTI expenses.

Leadership Awards

AACN Value of Certification AwardSponsored by AACN Certification Corporation, this award recognizes contributions that support and foster the advancement of certified nursing practice in critical care. Recipients are also presented a $500 honorarium.

Datascope Excellence in Collaboration AwardsSponsored by Datascope, these awards honor innovative contributions to collaborative practice by nurses who care for acutely and critically ill patients and their families. At least one of the collaborators must be an active AACN member. Each recipient is also presented a $1,500 honorarium. Applications are accepted in four categories:• Nurse-Physician Collaboration• Nurse-Administration Collaboration• Nurse-Family Collaboration• Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration

Excellence in Leadership AwardThis award recognizes nurses who demonstrate the leadership competencies of empowerment, effective communication and continuous learning, and the effective management of change.

Excellence in Education AwardThis award recognizes nurse educators who facilitate the acquisition and advancement of the knowledge and skills required for competent practice and positive patient outcomes in the care of acutely and critically ill patients and their families.

Eli Lilly & Company Excellent Preceptor AwardSponsored by Eli Lilly & Company, this award recognizes preceptors who demonstrate the key components of the preceptor role, including teacher, clinical role model, consultant and friend/advocate.

Excellent Nurse Manager AwardThis award recognizes nurse managers who demonstrate excellence in coordination of available resources to efficiently and effectively care for acutely or critically ill patients and their families.

Marsh-AACN Community Service AwardCosponsored by Marsh Affinity Group Services, a service of Seabury and Smith, this award recognizes significant service by acute and critical care nurses, as individuals or in groups, in making a contribution to their communities that also projects a positive image of critical care nursing. Individuals or groups selected for this award may choose to receive either one complimentary NTI registration or up to $500 toward speaker fees for an educational symposium.

Media AwardThis award recognizes broadcast and Web-based media excellence in the portrayal of healthcare providers, especially acute and critical care nurses, contributing to a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and families. Successful entries present relevant nursing and healthcare topics to large audiences of consumers, including the general public, patients and families.

Mentoring AwardThis award recognizes individuals or groups who develop and enhance another’s intellectual and technical skills, acculturating them to the professional community, and modeling a way of life and professional achievement.

AACN Corporate Circle

In the Circle
Award Honors Excellent Leadership

Editor’s note: Part of the AACN Circle of Excellence recognition program, this award recognizes nurses who demonstrate the leadership competencies of empowerment, effective communication and continuous learning, and the effective management of change. Following are excerpts from the examplars submitted in connection with this award for 2004.

Success was recognized when a coworker asked, “Hey, where’s that article? I want to take it to the nursery.” That coworker was a respiratory therapist! The chance to lead by doing, not by saying, came after a visit to NTI, where I gathered the latest information on caring for patients receiving mechanical ventilation. My belief that “rural and remote” does not equate to “substandard care” provided motivation to bring the messages, and the messengers, to my critical care nurse “buds.”

Bold steps were taken in asking speakers to come north, creatively obtaining airfare and accommodations, and using my own sled-dog resources as “adventu-rariums.” I initiated a performance improvement project on care of ventilated patients and morphed into a catalyst for change. The education by nationally renowned lecturers created a ground swell of enthusiasm from the staff. My rapport with one RT resulted in modeling positive collaborative behaviors to enhance relationships. Sharing articles, taking advantage of “learning moments” and initiating patient-care discussions took place with anyone still standing long enough toparticipate.

Outcomes included changing our ventilated patient-care guidelines to evidence-based, revising flow sheets to improve documentation, improving our collaborative relationships with RT, continuing to implement best practice and, best of all, reducing our ventilator-associated pneumonia rate to an all-time low. My passion for nursing, coupled with determination to provide excellent evidence-based care, fuels my desire to have everyone committed to best practice in their care environment. “Hey, where is that article?” Truly, no finer words were ever spoken!

Pamela A. Hicks-van Haren, RN, BSN, MSARichmond, Va.Virginia Commonwealth University Medical CenterI have been a nurse for 19 years. My current scope includes managing a transplant inpatient unit and a newly merged transplant clinic. As I joined this area, I was met with a high RN vacancy rate. After an assessment, I addressed staff concerns by ending the contracts of unsafe agency staff and placing only competent staff on the unit. This began a relationship of trust and demonstrated to the staff that I would follow up on their concerns.

I asked the staff to reflect on the importance of what they did and asked them to write down what was great about our unit. I came up with a plan of attack focused on four main areas. First were recruitment and teamwork. I explained to the staff that, using their feedback, I would be able to bring on new nurses. But in order to keep them we needed to become a team. We had team-building seminars and, together, we developed our unit’s vision and code of conduct.

Our bulletin board is a source of pride, with staff photos, achievements and patient success stories placed beneath our vision of “Soar With the Eagles.” We support our vision by acknowledging the behaviors we feel exemplify our vision, such as excellence in customer service, imagination and teamwork. When I receive written or verbal feedback on the staff, it is recognized in the staff meetings where eagle certificates and pins are presented. For retention, I revamped the orientation and corrected inequities, such as in holiday work schedules. The staff and I have rewritten patient care, staffing and self-scheduling guidelines. In addition, we have invented a new acuity system for patients.

My final area of focus was to assure the staff that I was their advocate and champion, willing to address their concerns, and to support and develop them. As a leader, it is important to listen, but the staff needs to see you move forward with action. The monitoring equipment was antiquated. I was able to get new monitors and have the staff oriented to them in eight weeks.

I am proud to say the plan is working. A happy team delivers great care, as the patient satisfaction scores have reflected.

LuAnn Staul, RN, MN, CNS, CCRNPortland, Ore.Legacy Health SystemAs our critical care clinical nurse specialist, LuAnn Staul has developed and implemented a nurse-driven hyperglycemia protocol that has effectively established an aggressive response to hyperglycemia and a method to maintain normal glycemia in critically ill patients. Despite studies demonstrating that control of hyperglycemia improves patient outcomes, our health system had no standardized method to address this issue.

LuAnn chaired a multidisciplinary quality improvement team that included an endocrinologist, intensivist, pharmacist, diabetic educator, RN staff members and quality staff. I volunteered as a staff RN team member, and this was my first experience with LuAnn’s tenacity, perseverance and high-energy approach in the pursuit of a goal.

The project setting, a four-hospital metropolitan health system with seven adult ICUs, made a practice change difficult. Implementation involved nursing and physician education, as well as presentations at journal clubs and during multidisciplinary rounds.

Driven by her commitment to this project and her goal for positive patient outcomes, LuAnn recruited champions of staff and pharmacists and was readily available to answer questions. Throughout the project, LuAnn maintained a supportive environment conducive to learning.Initial data demonstrated a reduction in capillary blood glucose. However, there were barriers to using the IV insulin protocol. Critics felt that the protocol was difficult to understand, that calculations were confusing and that the protocol was not always responsive to increasing blood glucose levels. LuAnn did not give up. She overcame these barriers by graciously accepting the criticism.

After considering the feedback, she went back to the drawing board, making the called-for changes to protocol. The protocol has now undergone two revisions, with changes made based on the literature and staff feedback. With the most recent revision, we have achieved commitment and utilization in all of the adult critical care units.

In the Circle
Award Recognizes Excellent Nurse Practitioner

Editor’s note: Part of AACN’s Circle of Excellence recognition program, the Excellent Nurse Practitioner Award recognizes acute and critical care nurses who function as nurse practitioners. Following are excerpts from the exemplar submitted in connection with this award for 2004.

Helen-Marie Molnar, RN, MSN, ACNP-CSCharlottesville, Va.University of Virginia Health SystemFor six years, I led the development and implementation of an outpatient and inpatient acute care nurse practitioner program to care for patients undergoing cardiac catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention at the University of Virginia Health System. The first of its kind at our institution, this comprehensive program has demonstrated excellent outcomes. After reviewing the previous system of care delivered by the cardiology fellows and identifying areas for improvement, I co-led a multidisciplinary team that developed an outpatient catheter lab NP program. Program evaluation demonstrated improvement in continuity of care and education of patients and families, facilitation of discharge planning, and overall quality of patient care.

Based on the success of the outpatient program, I developed a proposal to extend the existing NP role into the inpatient setting. Specific challenges with the previous system of care included delays in patient transfers to our hospital, longer than necessary patient lengths of stay and new medical residency credentialing rules that limited the number of patients the house staff could admit per day. To prevent patients from having to wait at outlying hospitals prior to transfer, five beds were set aside on our acute cardiology unit for the NP patients being transferred for cardiac catheter or PCI. To prevent unnecessary delays in getting patients catheterized and discharged, we established a formalized inpatient same day process, which expedited patient procedures and discharges.

By managing the stable transfers for catheters, we prevented the residents from violating the credentialing rules. A retrospective chart review comparing the NP service to previous care by the house staff demonstrated a decrease in time to admission by 40% and time to cardiac catheter or PCI by 62%, a decrease in length of stay by 30% and better documentation of patient education for the prevention of several cardiovascular risk factors.

Scene and Heard

AACN continues to seek visibility for our profession and the organization. Following is an update on recent outreach efforts.

Our Voice in the MediaRN (January 2005)—In her “From the Editor” column, Marya Ostrowski cited AACN as she encouraged nurses to “see what you can do to turn things around.” She wrote, “Work with your manager to make things better on your floor or in your hospital. Get involved in professional associations like the American Nurses Association and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses that speak out on behalf of nurses. Write your representative about legislation that adversely affects nurses.”

Healthcare Executive (March 2005)—An article titled “Affiliate-Led Hospitals Recognized for Critical Care Excellence” announced that Lynchburg General Hospital in Virginia and Tampa General Hospital in Florida, both led by American College of Healthcare Executives affiliates, received AACN’s Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence.

Nursing Spectrum (Feb. 14, 2005)—“Malpractice Issues Affect Nurses” was the title of an article about an American College of Nurse Practitioners malpractice insurance roundtable in Washington, D.C. AACN was among the nursing associations the article noted were represented.

Toronto Star (Jan. 15, 2005)—“Little Fighters: There’s a Special Hospital for the Frailest of All Babies” was the title of an article about the expansion and redesign of the neonatal ICU at McMaster Children’s Hospital, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The article noted that the unit received the 2004 ICU Design Citation Award, sponsored by AACN, the Society of Critical Care Medicine and American Institute of Architects.

Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing (March 2005)—An article titled “Online Learning Communities Can Provide Support for Nurses Preparing for Certification Examinations” suggested that an online learning community could be used to assist nurses preparing for certification exams, such as the CCRN or PCCN exam administered by AACN Certification Corporation. In providing supporting information for nursing certification, the article cited the AACN white paper titled “Safeguarding the Patient and the Profession: the Value of Critical Care Nurse Certification” and a 2002 article in the Journal of Nursing Administration by Dana Woods, AACN’s director of Marketing & Strategy Integration regarding professional certification as a marketing tool. The article also listed educational resources to prepare for the CCRN and PCCN exams.

Nursing Spectrum (Feb. 1, 2005)—In her “Dear Donna” column, Donna Cardillo, RN, MA, suggested to a soon-to-graduate reader that she should “join and get active in a related professional organization, such as the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (www.aacn.org).This will increase your learning curve and support your new career in many ways.”

Our Voice at the TableJulie Stanik-Hutt, RN, RN-BC, MSN,P, represented AACN at an American College of Nurse Practitioners malpractice insurance roundtable in Washington, D.C., to discuss the issue of rising rates. Stanik-Hutt has served on national AACN volunteer work groups, including the Advanced Practice Work Group.

AACN’s immediate past Treasurer Dave Hanson, RN, MSN, CCRN, attended the American Nurses Association’s Winter 2005 Congress on Nursing Practice and Economics in Silver Spring, Md. He was recently appointed to a two-year term as AACN’s liaison to the congress, which focuses on establishing nursing’s approach to emerging trends in the healthcare industry by identifying issues and recommending policy alternatives to the ANA Board of Directors. AACN was invited to participate as an organizational affiliate representing specialty nursing practice. Although other specialty nursing organizations participate in the congress, AACN is the first organizational affiliate with an official representative.

Justine Medina, RN, MS, AACN’s director of Professional Practice & Programs, and Janie Heath, RN, MS, CCRN, ANP, ACNP, a member of the AACN Board of Directors, represented AACN at the 12th Annual American College of Chest Physicians’ Capitol Hill Caucus in Washington, D.C. They joined 60 other critical care and pulmonary medicine providers to encourage congressional members to work on medical liability reform, the critical care workforce shortage and co-sponsor the COPD caucus.

Judy Verger, RN, MSN, CCRN, CRNP, chair-elect of the AACN Certification Corporation board, Carol Hartigan, RN, MA, certification director, and Karen Harvey, RN, MSN, certification specialist, attended the spring meeting of the American Board of Nursing Specialties in San Diego, Calif. Attendees shared organizational news and discussed issues facing nursing certifying agencies, including regulation of advanced practice, recognition of the value of certification by employers and consumers, and the nursing and faculty shortage. In addition, the AACN Certification Corporation was recognized for its 30th anniversary of incorporation.

AACN Board President Kathleen McCauley, RN, PhD, BC, FAAN, FAHA, presented the “Live Your Contribution” keynote address at the Greater Reading (Pa.) Chapter of AACN. She also spoke about the research she is involved with at the University of Pennsylvania to examine the role of advanced practice nurses in helping elderly heart failure patients in their transition from hospital to home, preventing readmissions and improving other outcomes, including cost. McCauley also presented these two talks at the 31st annual Midwest Chicago Conference, sponsored by the Northwest Chicago Area Chapter.

Caryl Goodyear-Bruch, RN, MSN, CCRN, a member of the AACN board, presented “The New Doctorate of Nursing Practice” at a meeting sponsored by the Kansas City CNS Chapter of the National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists at Graceland University, Independence, Mo. She discussed the American Association of Colleges of Nursing’s new doctorate of nursing practice degree, the issues surrounding this new degree, and its impact on practice, certification and licensure.

Suzanne Burns, RN, MSN, RRT, CCRN, ACNP-CS, FAAN, a member of the AACN board, and McCauley spoke at an all-day conference celebrating the 15th anniversary of the West Michigan Chapter of AACN. Burns’ presentation was titled “From Acute Ventilatory Management to Weaning: A Critical Care Challenge.” McCauley gave the keynote speech on “Live Your Contribution.”

Beth Martin, RN, MSN, CCNS, CNRN, a member of the AACN Certification Corporation board, and Diane Byrum, RN, MSN, CCRN, CCNS, FCCM, past NTI Work Group chair and current member of the Advanced Practice Work Group, spoke at the Piedmont Carolinas Chapter Spring Seminar, Critical Care Case Studies, in Charlotte, N.C. In addition to presenting an update on AACN, Martin gave a case study on “E. Coli O157:H7 Sepsis.” Byrum spoke about case studies on adrenal insufficiency and hyperglycemia in the critically ill.

Goodyear-Bruch attended the 23rd annual symposium, Critical Care Trends for the New Millennium, sponsored by the St. Louis Chapter of AACN. She presented, “AACN’s Contribution to Our Bold Voice,” which addressed AACN’s new Healthy Work Environment Standards, and “Treating the Dangers of Free Radicals in Critically Ill Patients.”

If you or your chapter has reached out to the media or other groups to promote AACN and critical care nursing, we’d like to know. E-mail your information to Judy.Wilkin@aacn.org.

PDA Center

The Acute Coronary Syndromes and Stroke e-Reference provides algorithms common to acute coronary syndromes and stroke, the relationship of the 12-lead ECG to coronary artery anatomy, and appropriate treatment protocols. A joint project of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and the American Heart Association, this program allows healthcare providers an alternate way to quickly access information for management of acute coronary syndromes and stroke, and their treatments. Only $12.50.

New from AACN!AACN Medicopeia: the PDA That Does It All!The newest, most advanced PDA solution is now available! Designed exclusively for AACN and bedside nurse clinicians in many areas of practice, the AACN Medicopeia makes installing, registering, unlocking and managing your PDA and applications a thing of the past! Say goodbye to unlock codes and serial numbers with this exciting program!

With the all-inclusive AACN Medicopeia package, you’ll receive a Palm PDA pre-loaded with drug monographs on thousands of medications (including integrated weight-based dosing calculators), clinical references, tools and calculators, all updated and unlocked automatically every time you synchronize your device!

And, as an exclusive for AACN Medicopeia users, you'll have access to AACN’s weekly Critical Care Newsline e-newsletter, providing you up to the minute alerts and information simply by synchronizing your device.

If you already have a PDA device, you can still subscribe to AACN Medicopeia. Here is what you will get for only $139 (annual renewal only $109).

Welcome to ECCO!
User Numbers Continue to Build

Use of AACN’s Essentials of Critical Care Orientation (ECCO) program continues to grow, as healthcare institutions across the country and in Canada turn to this interactive, self-paced curriculum via the Internet. There are now more than 300 sites using ECCO. Following is a list of institutions that have joined the ECCO family since Jan. 1:

Lake Hospital System (Lake West Hospital and Lake East Hospital)Painesville, Ohio

PennsylvaniaGrand View HospitalSellersville, Pa.

South CarolinaSisters of Charity Providence HospitalsColumbia, S.C.

TexasSt Luke's Episcopal HospitalHouston, Texas

Wilford Hall Medical Center/MCEPLackland AFB, Texas

VirginiaSentara HealthcareNorfolk, Va.

WashingtonUniversity of Washington Medical CenterSeattle, Wash.

CanadaScarborough Hospital Scarborough Ontario, Canada

For more information about the ECCO program, visit the AACN Web site.

Submit Abstracts Online for NTI 2006 in California

June 1 is the deadline to submit speaker proposals, including chapter-related proposals, for NTI 2006, May 20 through 25 in Anaheim, Calif. Abstracts can be submitted online at www.aacn.org.

Looking Ahead

June 2005

June 1 Deadline to submit speaker proposals, including chapter-related proposals, for NTI 2006, May 20 through 25 in Anaheim, Calif. Abstracts can be submitted online at www.aacn.org.

June 3 Deadline to nominate individuals to serve on the AACN Board of Directors, AACN Nominating Committee and AACN Certification Corporation Board of Directors for terms beginning July 1, 2006. Simply complete the nomination form that is available online at www.aacn.org.

July 2005

July 1 Deadline to apply for AACN Clinical Inquiry Grant, End-of-Life/Palliative Care Small Projects Grant and Medtronic Physio-Control AACN Small Projects Grant. For more information, visit the AACN Web site at www.aacn.org; e-mail, research@aacn.org.

July 5 Deadline to nominate yourself or a colleague for an AACN Circle of Excellence Award. To obtain a Circle of Excellence Awards application, call (800) 899-2226 (request Item #1011) or visit the AACN Web site at www.aacn.org. Chapter awards are also available.

September 2005

Sept. 1 Deadline to submit Research and Creative Solutions Abstracts for NTI 2006 in Anaheim, Calif. The application as well as guidelines and resources are available at www.aacn.org.

What’s Coming in June in Critical Care Nurse

• Development and Implementation of a Protocol for Transfers Out of the Pediatric ICU

Subscriptions to Critical Care Nurse and the American Journal of Critical Care are included in AACN membership dues.

From AACN’s Catalog Products!

Celebrate critical care nursing with one of this month’s super savers! These super saver prices are good through June 31, 2005. To qualify for the Super Saver prices, orders must be postmarked by that date.

Fresnel Magnifying Lens With Ruler(#402399)For the “visually challenged”—a flat Fresnel Magnifying Lens with both centimeter and inch rules. Sized to fit into all of our Tarascon books, this handy magnifier will eliminate your need to keep both ruler and reading glasses in those already crowded pockets.Regular PriceMember and Nonmember: $1Super Saver PriceMember and Nonmember: 85 cents

CE PassportThe CE Passport is AACN’s newest solution to provide you with an efficient and inexpensive way to earn your continuing education contact hours. CE Passport 25 gives you 25 contact hours of CE credit and CE Passport 50 gives you 50 contact hours, which can be used anytime from AACN’s Online CE Center (www.aacn.org > Education > Continuing Education). Features include savings over individual CE credit costs (only $5.16 per contact hour for CEPASS25 and $5 per contact hour for CEPASS50); you can choose the content most appealing to you from more than 230 critical care topics from AACN’s renowned publications; and your CE certificates are delivered immediately, via email.Special terms apply. Because this is a single-user program, codes are nontransferable. This offer applies to AACN Online CE Center programs only; no mail-in applications will be accepted. You must have an e-mail address to receive your CE certificates. Within 48 to 72 hours of AACN receiving your order, you will receive an e-mail with your personal CE Passport prepaid code. Your CE passport is valid for two years from the date of purchase. The CE Passport purchase is nonrefundable.Regular Price#CEPASS25: $129#CEPASS50: $250Super Saver Price#CEPASS25: $109#CEPASS50: $209